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Services provided by Councils are in response to the needs and priorities of local communities. The services can vary greatly from one Council area to another depending on the Council's location and size, development and growth patterns, population profile and community preferences.

Most people recognise that Councils provide many services but few people can list more than a few.

Combined, all 68 Councils in SA spend around $2 billion a year, about half of which is spent on: roads and drainage; waste collection, disposal and recycling; recreation and cultural activities; and on library and information services.

What councils must do

Mostly Councils decide what services they will provide locally, however there are some services which Councils are required to provide by law. These include:

planning and development services, including building safety assessment;

some public health services, such as monitoring cooling towers for Legionnaire's Disease;

fire prevention (some building inspection, and some bushfire prevention planning functions are a duty, others are by choice);

dog and cat management;

some administrative requirements, such as preparing strategic plans for the area, maintaining an office, keeping records, employing a Chief Executive Officer and supporting the elected Council.

What councils do by choice

Other services provided and activities undertaken or funded by many Councils in SA are listed below. Many are used by the whole community - others as people transition through childhood, teenage years, parenthood, and ageing.

Immunisation

Libraries

Economic Development

Control of public nuisances

Playgrounds

Monitoring insanitary conditions

Food safety inspections

Roads (local roads - that is, not national highways or State arterial roads)

Footpaths

Stormwater drains

Parks and gardens

Street lights

On-street parking

Traffic management and local road safety

Regional Airports and aerodromes

Reserves and picnic areas

Recreation centres

Ovals & other sporting facilities

Public swimming pools

Rubbish collection and disposal

Recycling

Information services

Free internet in libraries

Community centres

Skate parks

Community development programs

Arts and cultural activities

Community services such as Home and Community Care

Employment/Training Programs

Tourism information and support

Community buses

Environmental management

Festivals and events

Youth Advisory Committees

Caravan Parks

Cemeteries

Wetlands

Local Museums and Heritage support

Coastcare projects

Business support

Stormwater recycling

Landcare programs

Dry zones

Aged care

Cycling paths

Crime prevention

Community leadership and advocacy

Community Wastewater Management Schemes (where SA Water does not provide sewers)

Whether a service is a legislative requirement of Councils, or is provided by local choice, the Local Government Act requires that a Council is "responsive to the needs, interests and aspirations of individuals and groups within its community..." and that it must "...seek to ensure that Council resources are used fairly..." (Section 8, (b) and (h)).